Systems and methods for controlling user devices based on brain activity

Abstract

Methods and systems described herein provide for an integrated approach for controlling a user's various devices based on the user's brain activity. A user's brain activity is monitored with a first user device. A change in the brain activity is detected. In response to detecting the change, data from a second user device is processed. The detected change in brain activity is compared to the processed data to determine whether the change in brain activity is associated with the second user device. In response to determining that the change is associated with the second user device, an option is generated for display on a display screen to control the second user device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for controlling user devices, comprising:
 monitoring brain activity of a user with a first user device; 
 detecting, using control circuitry, a drop in the user's attention level based on a change in the brain activity; 
 in response to detecting the drop, processing, using the control circuitry, event data from a second user device; 
 comparing, using the control circuitry, a time of the drop to a time in the processed event data to determine whether the drop is associated with the second user device; and 
 in response to determining that the drop is associated with the second user device, generating for display an option to control the second user device on a display screen. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display screen is associated with a third user device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user device includes a heads-up display. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating for display an option to control a third user device. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting the drop comprises:
 detecting a differential in the brain activity; and 
 comparing the detected differential to a threshold differential to determine whether the detected differential corresponds to an interruption in the user's attention level. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 cross-referencing the event data in a database, wherein the database comprises associations with changes in brain activity; and 
 based on the associations, determining that one of the changes in brain activity is associated with the event data. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the time of the drop to the event data comprises:
 determining that an event occurred at the second user device based on the processed event data; and 
 determining that a first time associated with occurrence of the event corresponds to a second time associated with the detection of the drop. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting the option to control the second user device based on the brain activity of the user after the drop is detected. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second user device is one of a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an input from the user to select the displayed option, wherein the input is of a detected facial feature. 
 
     
     
       11. A system for controlling user devices, comprising:
 storage circuitry configured to store brain activity of a user that is monitored with a first user device; and 
 control circuitry configured to:
 detect a drop in the user's attention level based on a change in the brain activity; 
 process event data from a second user device in response to the detecting the drop; 
 compare a time of the drop to a time in the processed event data to determine whether the drop is associated with the second user device; and 
 generate for display an option to control the second user device on the display screen. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the display screen is associated with a third user device. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first user device includes a heads-up display. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display an option to control a third user device. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the detecting the drop comprises:
 detecting a differential in the brain activity; and 
 comparing the detected differential to a threshold differential to determine whether the detected differential corresponds to an interruption in the user's attention level. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 cross-reference the event data in a database, wherein the database comprises associations with changes in brain activity; and 
 based on the associations, determine that one of the changes in brain activity is associated with the event data. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to compare the time of the drop to the event data by being further configured to:
 determine that an event occurred at the second user device based on the processed event data; and 
 determine that a first time associated with occurrence of the event corresponds to a second time associated with the detection of the drop. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 select the option to control the second user device based on the brain activity of the user after the drop is detected. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second user device is one of a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 11 , further comprising user input interface circuitry configured to receive an input from the user to select the displayed option, wherein the input is of a detected facial feature.